Final answer:
The proposal to lower the voting age was influenced by the opposition to the Vietnam War, the activism of young people, and the recognition of the impact young voters could have.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors that led to the proposal to lower the voting age can be attributed to several reasons. Firstly, the opposition to the Vietnam War and the military draft in the 1960s sparked the belief that if young people were old enough to die for their country, they should also be old enough to vote. This sentiment led to the passage of the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971, which lowered the voting age from 21 to 18. The activism and advocacy efforts of young people during this time were instrumental in bringing about this change.
Secondly, there was a recognition that young people were being directly affected by government decisions, such as military conscription, without having a say in those decisions. Lowering the voting age was seen as a way to give young people a voice and ensure that their interests and concerns were represented in the political process.
Lastly, the high level of interest generated by Barack Obama's campaign in 2008 among college-aged voters highlighted the potential impact that young voters could have on elections. This increased attention and engagement with politics further underscored the importance of including young people in the electoral process and led to ongoing discussions about the voting age.